The RaceWho can forget the excitement and adrenalin rush just before the start of a race? The body is tense, the mind is focused, you can sense every breath and every heartbeat. And then, boom ! off you go as fast as you can. No time to think anymore, you are now IN THE RACE. If you so much as to flinch, you can loose valuable seconds that can cause you to end up last. You must react fast and correct as you go.

The beginning of the race is all a rush: go, go, go... It does not take long before the muscles starts to ask for oxygen and your mind starts to play games creating self defense thoughts like: Why in the world did I get in this race?? I was fine without racing this silly race that no one cares about. None of my friends entered this race, why should I do it? It hurts!! Why race at all? You are going to loose anyway, you are not competitive, why even try or keep going? STOP it hurts !!!

Right about ¾ into the race, everyone (not just you) hits a wall. You have pretty much depleted your physical fuel and now you are forced to switch to mental fuel. This is the perfect time to quit, you can fake a pulled muscle, you can always show everyone the big blister on your foot, or trip on purpose so that it’s clear that “it is not your fault”. That’s it ! Brilliant ideas that everyone will understand and easily justify your quitting. In fact, in your mind the little voice tells you: why do you even have to explain it to anyone, it is your life and you can quit if you want to….

So what keeps the very few that make it past this point? In simple terms: They are no longer thinking straight, they are now operating on pure heart. They simply WANT to finish, get it done. They are overriding their constant mental attacks and physical pain with their huge desire to cross the finish line. At some point in the race, they decided they would not live with defeat. They no longer care about first or second places. They have decided to finish or die trying. It is now personal. They impact of quitting becomes unacceptable and the thought of living with failure becomes greater than the physical or emotional pain of the moment. They realize that the rewards and self satisfaction awaiting them at the finish line are well worth any amount of pain they have to endure to get to the finish line.

Upon making the decision to finish, suddenly, a second wing comes to you, you have a mental glimpse of the finish line, just enough to feed your spirit with the hope that maybe you can actually finish the race you started. Everything begins to move in slow speed, in a blur. You can see the finish line. Your body is now numbed to the pain, numbed to the yelling and screaming of the spectators. Some cheer for you and some against you but you no longer hear or care. You are on a mission to finish….

The second you cross the finish line, you are overwhelmed, sometimes to the point of crying with the satisfaction of having accomplished what most never believed you could. You have actually accomplished what most never will, you have gone past the point that breaks most, you have endured not only the physical pain but most importantly you were able to shut up that little defeating voices inside your head who played with you all along telling you to quit, stop, you couldn’t do it, this race was not for you, etc. etc… Oh what an incredible feeling, what an amazing accomplishment. Now that you have experienced the race, everything changes for you, Fame, Fortunes, Recognition, Respect, all are now available to you because now you know what it takes to win in life.

“Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go” – TS ElliotUntil next time. Al Lobato